Valve control



E. J.y PANISH vALvE. CONTROL Original Filed' Aprilr 9., 1940 Aug. 5,1941.

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Patented. Aug; 5', 1941 uNlTED STATESA .PAT

VALVE CONTROL v Erwin J. Panna, Bridgeport, conn. l

Original application April 9, 1940, Serial No.

1941, serial No, 397,760 5 claims. .'(cl. 'i4-407) This inventionrelates to power-operated valve control devices, and, more particularly,tomeans for permitting manual operation of the valve with convenienceand safety.

Such vdevices are employed tol automatically open and close valves andthe like usually from a remote point or station. Yet, means must beprovided for opening and closing the valve by hand in case of anemergency or the failure of the motor or other power normally used.

For this purpose, valve controls are usually provided with handwheels orwith wildcat wheel and chains when the location of the handwheel is sohigh or so low that it cannot be reached conveniently. It is dangerousto permit the rotation of the wheel when the valve is being operatedautomatically by power, and hence it is the ilrst be operated by hand toconnect the wheel to the valve-actuating mechanism before the rotationof the wheel can be effective to open or close the valve. V

This 'clutching operation should also render impossible the poweroperation of the valve while under manual control. Yet,if thisbedone,andthe operator fails to restorevthe clutching mechanism after the manualoperation of the valve is completed, the operator at a remotepoint,`such as an emergency station, could not promptly open or closethe valve as might be necessary to save life and property. l

Besides, in the present practice of manually clutching the manuallyoperated wheel where the control is inaccessibleto direct manualoperation and a wildcat and chain are needed, it is very difficult tooperate such a clutch. l

To overcome these dilcuities, the present invention provides manuallyoperated means for valve controls in which the manual rotation of thehandwheel (or Wildcat) automatically causes the handwheel automaticallyrender the power operation of the valve impossible until the operatorreleases manual control ofthe handwheel.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.328,645, filed April 9, 1940.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein,the mechanism is so arranged that the initial rotation of the wheel o'rpulley by hand, acting against a return spring, causes a gear to beaxially shifted and the handwheel or pulley to be clutched or geared tothe actuating mechanism. The continued rotation' of the wheel operatesthe valve, and, immediately upon the operator releasingl his grasp ofthe handwheel, or the operating chain in case a pulley Divided and thisapplication June l2,

is used, the wheel, under the action of the return spring, receivesretrograde motion and becomes disengaged from the actuating mechanism.

Preferably, the mechanism is so arranged that so long as thehand-operated wheel is connected to the'actuating mechanism, theautomatic operation of the valve is prevented to safeguard the personmanually operating the valve. This may safely be done -with 'the presentinvention, for, as soon as the operator releases his hold' on thehandwheel, it returns, and this reestablshes the practice to provideclutching means which must automatic control of thevalve.

In some types of-valve controls, such as the type in which the valve isseated under a predetermined and limited torque as controlled by apredetermined spring pressure, when the valve is closed -under power,the driving train is constantly under load, and, in such cases, it isimpractical to declutch part of the driving train from another part soas to permit hand operation.

According to the present invention, this dimculty is obviated, andhand-opening of the valve closed by torque-responsive power means isperm'itted by so arranging the manually operable mechanism that thevalve-actuating mechanism may be operated to open the valve, and toclose it'too for that matter, without interrupting the train of drivingconnections. between the motor and the valve. In other words, by thepresent invention, the valve-actuating mechanism may be operated by handwithout declutching the operating motor from the valve.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. v

In the accompanying drawing: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a torque-responsive valve-controlmechanism with portions of the casing broken away to show the presentinvention and the valve-actuating mechanism with which it cooperates.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1,showing the manually operated gear in mesh with one of the gearsconnected A with the actuating mechanism when the handwheelis undermanual operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of theinvention.

'As will appear Ibelow, the present invention is particularlyadvantageous in connection with valve control mechanisms of thetorque-responsive type, such-as shown in my prior Patent No. 1,747,594,granted February 18, 1930. in which the A driving. train from the motorarmature to the valve stem rem-ains permanently coupled and movementsofthe valve are started and stopped solely by the closing and openingofthe motor circuit. I have chosen, therefore, to disclose thepresentinvention as used with this type ofcontrol.

It should be understood, however, that, some I important aspects of thisinvention, it is immaterial whether the driving train of connectionsremains continuous or is interrupted by the use of a clutch of any typebetween the motor and the valve. With the clutching and declutchingtypes of controls, however, it is possible to avoid the loss ofautomatic control of the valve should the operator, who manuallyclutched the handwheel to the actuating mechanism, have forgotten todeclutch it.

Hence, the present invention, with its provision for declutching thehandwheel from the valve-actuating mechanism, asa result of therelinquishment of force manually applied thereto, may be advantageouslyemployed even with valve controls in which the motor and valve areclutched and declutched in the normal operations.

t As illustrated in the drawing, the mechanism has a suitable housing Ifor enclosing and supporting the operating parts. On one side of thehousing there is a motor having a gear I2 which meshes with a gear |3 ona shaft |4 on which there is splined a worm I5 meshing with a worm-wheelI5 on the valve stem I1. When the motor is operated by controls (notshown) `in one direction or the other, depending on whether the valve isto be opened or closed, the power is transmitted `to the valve stem I1to operate the valve. When the valve stops moving, as when .hitting theseat or an obstruction, the worm-v wheel I8 stops and this causes theworm I5 to travel ahead against the pressure of a torquecontrollingspring |8 until a collar I9 advanced bythe worm I5 strikes and moves aswitch acn I5 remains constantly in mesh with the worm-1 wheel I6 eventhough it travels slightly along the shaft I4 in tripping the switchlever 20.

When the valve is seated by power operation, the worm-wheel I5 remainsin the position to which it has been moved axially and the spring 23 onwhich there is a screw 30 on which is slid'- ably mounted a nut 3|forming the hub for the gear 21.

At each end of the screw 30 there is a collar 32 fixed to the shaft 23,and at each side oi' the gear 21 there is a sleeve 33 riding on theexterior of the nut 3| and the collars 32. Each sleeve 33 has anoutwardly extending flange 34 normally pressed against the adjacentfaceof the gear 21 by a spring 35 and an inwardly extending flange 36adapted to overhang the adjacent collar 32. 'I'he outer ends of thesprings 35 engage adjacent portions of the casing, and are bent toengage notches in the casing to keep the spring from turning. The innerends of the springs are bent to. engage notches in the iianges 34, andhence the spring tends to hold the sleeve 33 from turning. The springs35, being equal in expansive force, hold the gear21 normally locatedbetween and out o1 mesh with the gears 24 and 25.

There is normally a slight clearance between the inwardly turned flanges36 of one or the other of the sleeves 33 and the adjacent collars 32, sothat there is always spring pressure on the gear 21 to'frictionally holdit fromturning until the teeth thereon have meshed with either the gear24 or the gear 25. If the tension of the springs 35 is exactlylbalanced, the gear 21 willlstand exactly midway between the gears 24 and25, but

it one spring should'be slightly stronger than the other, the gear 21will be located slightly closer to one of the gears 24 or 25 but notclose enough to engage the same because its movement Vis limited by oneof the collars 32 which is en.

gaged'by the inwardly turned flange 36.

When, however, the handwheel is rotated by hand, the gear 21 and nut 3|,being held by the pressure of the springs 35 against freely turning, arecaused, by the rotation of the screw 30 and the nut 3|, to travellaterally in one direction or the other, depending on the direction ofrotation of the handwheel. When the gear 21 travels lat- |8 remainscompressed, because the Worm and worm-wheel are not overhauling. TheWhole driving train is, therefore, under full seating load,

and it is impractical to provide a clutch or gear shifting arrangementwhereby operation of the valve may be unclutched from the motor andclutched to the handwheel.

In the form of the invention. shown in Fig. 1, the outer end of the wormshaft is provided with a pair of gears 24 and 25 permanently secured tothe shaft by a pin 25. These gears 24 and 25 are spaced apart, and, inthe space between them, there is located 'a gear 21 which is manuallyoperated and which, when meshed with either the gear 24 or the -gear 25,rmay turn the worm shaft I4, and through the worm I5 and worm-wheel I6the valve stem I1.

The gear 21 is caused to move lateral-ly from its Vnormal inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 1 into mesh gwith -either the gear 24-A or theygear 25 by the manual rotation of ahandwheel 28 on the exterioryof the.casing. Thisgmay be a conventional one, or one having its peripheryshaped to receivev a rope ,or chain 88, so that it may be manuallyoperated froma l nearby point when the valve control is not convenientto reach from the oor.v` f v 1 The wheel 28 is secured to the end of ashaft erally, the teeth thereon enter between the teeth of one of thegears 24-25, the gear 24 for instance, and the gear 21 is then heldagainst turning by the load on the Worm shaft I4 until the left end ofthe nut 3| strikes the left collar 32 as shown in Fig.` 2. Being thusprevented from traveling, the nut 3| and gear 21 rotate as one with theshaft 29 and drive the gear 24 and the slow-speed shaft I4 to operatethe valve.

When the gear 21 moves laterally as above described, a yoke 31,-straddling the gear and carried on a rod 38 mounted to slide in thecasing,

moves laterally with it, and in so doing removes a cam 39 carried by therod 38 away from an actuating plunger 4|) of an electric switch 4| toopen themotor or automatic control circuit and prevent power operationof the valve until the gear 21- andyoke 31 return to normal positionshown in Fig. 1.

As long as the operator maintains operating force on the handwheel 28,the latter remains geared to the valve-actuating mechanism. When,however, the operator releases the handwheel, the spring 35, which wasplaced under compression in the operation as above described. forces thegear 21 and nut 3| laterally, and, since the helix angle of the screw 30is sufficiently great, the screw 30 is rotated, and with it the shaft 28and handwheel 28, until the gear 21 reaches its intermediate positionshown in Fig. l, where it is disengaged from both. the gears 24 and 25.

The, parts being duplicated on opposite sides of the normal position ofthe gear 21, regardless causing said gear to rotate with said screw andI of the direction of rotation` of the handwheel, the

latter becomes lcoupledto the valve-.actuating mechanism and remainscoupled so long as the operator maintains operating force on the hand-To crack-open by hand a stuck or stiff valve sometimes requires a hammerblow.' I

For this purpose, there is kprovided a pair of lugs I2 on the wormwheelI6 and on a disk (not shown) on the valvestem I1 respectively. When thevalve is seated, these lugs are-in engagement,

and, of course, when unseating the valve by retrograde motion oi! theparts, the lug 42 which is on the wormwheel I moves through almost acomplete revolution before it strikes the other lug drive the gear onthe driving shaft; and a spring placed under a load when said screw isrotated to cause said gears to mesh and acting to cause lreverse.rotation of the screw and unmeshing of the gears when manually appliedtorque is removed from the handwheel.

3. A valve control having motor-operated valve-actuating mechanismincluding a valve driving shaft; a pair of laterally spaced gears insaid driving shaft; a handwheel; -a handwheel 42, and this produces ahammer blow to crack open the valve.

In a modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3, special means areprovided for holding the gear 21 /more firmly against rotation until Thesleeve 60 has slots Bi engaged by inwardly extending ears 62 on thespring cup 33a. vHence the cups 33a may slide longitudinally but cannotrrotate, and thus, through the action of the rsprings 36,rotation-retarding pressure is applied to the gear 21. v y

To further retard the tendency of the-gear 21 g for each of shaft havinga traversing screw thereon; a gear slidably mounted on said screw andhaving en gagement with the thread thereof, said gear being normallylocated in the space lbetween said driving shaft gears and being adapted'to be moved axially by rotation of said screw into mesh with one or theother of said gears, dependingy ,on whether said handwheel shaft ,isrotated in valve-opening or. valve-closing direction; means forlimitingthe axial movement of said gear and causing .it to rotate withthe handwheel shaft and drive the driving shaft to open or close-thevalveby hand; and spring means for returning the axially movable gear toits intermediate and inoperative position when manually applied torqueis removed from the handwheel.

to rotate with the screw during lthe initial mover held captive balls 6Itting in notches 65 in the l upturned anges 34 of the spring cups. Adetent action is thus provided between the nonrotating spring cups andthe gear 21 so as to hold the gear 21 against turning until either e'ndof the nut 3i is engaged by one of the stop. co1- lars 32, whereupon theballs 6I slip by the notches 65 in the spring cups and the gear 21 mayturn. l Variations and modifications may be made within the scope ofthis invention and portions of the improvements may be used withoutothers. I claim: 1. In a valve control having motor-operatedvalve-actuating mechanism including a valve driving shaft; a gear onsaid shaft; a handwheel; a gear driven by said handwheel and normallyout of mesh with said gear on the driving shaft; means operated by therotation of.the handwheel for moving one of said gears axially into meshwith the other gear so that said driving shaft maybe rotated by saidhandwheel; and automatic means for moving said movable gear axially outof mesh with said-other gear when manually appliedtorque is removed fromthe handwheel.

2. In a valve control having nlotor-operated valve-actuating mechanismincluding a valve driving shaft; a gear on said shaft; a handwheel; agear driven by said handwheel and normally out of mesh with said gear onthe driving shaft;

' a'screw operated by the handwheel and having threaded engagement withlthe last-named gear; means for yieldably holding said gear againstrotation during initial rotation of said screw whereby said gear isadaptedby the operation of said screw to move axially into engagementwith the gear on the driving shaft; means for limiting the axialmovementv of said screw-driven gear and 4. A Vvalve control havingmotor-operated valve-actuating mechanism including a .valve drivingshaft; a pair of laterally spaced gears in said driving shaft; ahandwheel; a handwheel 'shaft having a traversing lscrew thereon; a gearslidably mounted on said screw and having engagement with the threadthereof, said gear being normally located in the space between saiddriving shaft gears andk being adapted to be moved axially vby rotationof said screw into mesh with one or the other of said gears, dependingon whether said handwheel shaft is rotated in valve-opening orvalve-closing direction; means for limiting the axial movement of saidgear and causing it to rotate with the handwheel shaft and drive thedriving shaft. to opener rrclose the valve by hand; and spring means forcausing reverse operation of the handwheel shaft to return the axiallymovable gear to intermediate and inoperative position when manuallyapplied torque is removed from the handwheel.

5. A valve control e having motor-operated valve-actuating mechanismincluding a valve driving shaft; a'pair of laterally spaced gears insaid drivingshaft; a handwheel; a handwheel shaft having a traversingscrew thereon; a gear slidably mounted on said screw and havingengagement with the thread thereof, said gear being normally located inthe vspace between said driving shaft gears and being adapted to bemoved axially by rotation of said screw into mesh with one or the otherof said gears, depending on whether said handwheel shaft is rotated invalveopening or valve-closing direction; means for limiting the axialmovement of said gear and causing-it t0 rotate with the handwheel shaftand drive the driving shaft to open or close the operated by movement ofthe axially shiftable gear from inoperative position in either directionfor rendering the motor operation of the valve inoperative.

ERWIN J. PANISH.

